Steve runs a yearly hypnosis training near San Diego, California called “Trance Camp.” Trance Camp is an experiential workshop for those interested in exploring hypnotic states and their relevance to creativity, change and personal evolution. (I spent 2 weeks in Steve’s trance camp back in 2001 and it was quite delightful. It’s kind of like the first year of a Feldenkrais training – I don’t remember much of but I know it was amazing.)

In years past, I know that Stephen has invited Feldenkrais Practitioners to teach daily Awareness Through Movement Lessons at his workshops. I am also under the impression that Stephen is the person who introduced Moshe Feldenkrais and Milton Erickson and was present at several of their meetings. I hope to talk to him personally about this in a future podcast.

Dr. Wildman is perhaps one of the most prolific Feldenkrais Trainers having taught dozens of Feldenkrais Trainings in areas as such as the U.S., Japan, Australia and many countries in Europe. In this aproximately 35 minute conversation I talk with Frank about whether the Feldenkrais Method is more accepted in certain parts of the world and what might account for that.

We have a wide and varied conversation, discussing the marketing and the “perceived value”of the method, mentioning some recently succesfull examples of marketing acumen as found in Pilates and Yoga. Frank mentions the need for effective business models and business skills, to help spread the Feldenkrais Method.

I ask Frank about some of the historical details about the early Feldenkrais trainings and to speak to some of Moshe’s early thoughts about the Feldenkrias Method as a profession.

We end with a brief conversation about Dr. Wildman’s workshop, “Your Brain as the Core of Strength and Stability.” Short video’s of which you can see elsewhere on this blog.

This is Part Two of my conversation with Alan Questel. In this 20 minute Feldenkrais Podcast we discuss creativity and embodying the creative process. Can creativity be taught with the Feldenkrais Method? Was Moshe actually using Awareness Through Movement to teach creativity? Listen to Alan’s thoughts on these and other topics.

As promised, Part 1 of my long-awated podcast with Alan Questel, Feldenkrais Trainer. Sorry for the delay!

In my conversation with Alan he speaks about some of the new teaching and learning strategies that he is using in his latest Feldenkrais Training programs, as he explores several questions:

Are there more effective ways to teach Functional Integration and Awareness Through Movement? How is it possible to evolve the Feldenkrais Method?

An important distinction that Alan talks about in this podcast is the difference between “competence” and “confidence.” What happens when a Feldenkrais student has finished his or her training? They have been certified “competent” to begin practicing the work, but perhaps do not FEEL confident about their abilities? Can Feldenkrais training programs help to address this issue? Alan Questel thinks that they can.

Enjoy. And stay tuned for Part 2 of this conversation where we talk about creativity and embodying the creative process.

Jerry Karzen – One of Moshe Feldenkrais’ original American students. Find out how Jerry found himself in the San Francisco International Feldenkrais Training in 1977. And how he ultimately came to become a close friend of Dr. Feldenkrais and organize the Amherst Training in 1980.

Learn the story behind Jerry’s filming of Moshe Feldenkrais that has left us with an enduring video legacy of Dr. Feldenkrais teaching Awareness Through Movement and giving Functional Integration lessons. Jerry shares some wonderful, and sometimes personal, anecdotes of his relationship with Moshe and about the Amherst Training.

Jerry – Thanks for taking the time to do this. I hope we do it again – Ryan

I first came across Dr. Fogel’s work through a presentation arranged by Mark Reese back in 1998..or so. Mark brought Alan to one of his San Diego Feldenkrais Trainings to give a 1-day workshop on…well, I don’t remember what it was on, but it was really, really, cool and it made perfect sense at the time. The main benefit of going to Alan’s workshop was that I become aware of his book:

Which is a GREAT read, especially when you are working a dead-end temp-job with nothing much to do. Anyway, I read all of Alan’s research – even the stuff that didn’t make a damn bit of sense to me and I – sigh – applied and got into graduate school at the University of Utah.

At least in Utah when you say that you are a “graduate student” people know what you mean. I used to tell people that I was a “Feldenkrais Practitioner” but they would usually just grab their children and quickly walk away. That’s really a pisser for your self-esteem. There must have been some famous utah polygamist named “Ryan Feldenkrais” or something. So anyhow, here’s a most-excellent podcast with Dr. Alan Fogel, Professor of Psychology at the University, Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner and a really nice guy. Find out how Dr. Fogel’s somatic journeys have influenced his personal life and scientific research:

In this podcast with Larry Goldfarb, and the next with Alan Fogel (coming soon), we discuss some issues related to Feldenkrais research.

What are the roles of research in a “systemic” methodology such as the Feldenkrais Method? Can research inform Feldenkrais practice? Is it possible that researchers are actually looking for Feldenkrais principles but do not know it? We will also discuss some major “categories” and intentions of scientific research.

Most importantly, when you listen to this podcast, you will be able to find out what makes Larry Goldfarb cry…

Near the end of this podcast, Larry and I discuss his “more or less” monthly newsletter. If you would like to sign up for it, please send an email to:office@mindinmotion-online.com. You can also take a look at some of Larry’s products and workshops that are available at EasyMovement.

This is the first of two conversations that I have had with Dr. Goldfarb. In this conversation we focus on Larry’s use of technology to train Feldenkrais Practitioners. I contacted him to be on the Feldenkrais Podcast because Larry really seems to “get” technology and I wanted to know how he employs it in his Feldenkrais Training Programs. Enjoy! – Ryan

Martin Weiner’s Death

Marty died several years after this podcast aired. I had it in mind to do another session with him. We talked briefly about the idea, but it never came to pass. On the page that you can reach by clicking below are my thoughts on his death. His voice is sorely missed within the Feldenkrais community. We needed him and we need more like him: Martin Weiner, 1943-2011

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Feldenkrais Podcast Episodes

Feldenkrais sessions that involve the breath have a tendency to bring out a great deal of emotion in me, sometimes leading to spontaneous crying or anger. Have you experienced something similar? The first time I experienced it was during a Feldenkrais table session (sometimes called "Functional Integration"). I was young at the time, only 24... […]

I am at a coffee shop preparing the transcript for my weekly Easy Feldenkrais session and I had a moment of confusion when the transcript of Moshe's session said, "Press the middle of your waist in the floor. That is, press the small ribs on the right and left - the floating ribs." To me,... […]

I was really excited a few days ago when I saw that my longtime friend, colleague and fellow "Feldenkrais Evangelist" Alfons Grabher had released a new book: Feldenkrais With Alfons: Getting Better Day By Day. Alfons does what I do - travels the world (He is an Austrian currently traveling in Hong Kong, Taiwan and... […]

Here is a wonderful (and free) audio Feldenkrais session that you can do right now. No need to enter your email, just click below to play. It is based on a session from "Alexander Yanai" (or AY as they are sometimes called). This is one of my all time favorite sessions. And that has little... […]

Several Feldenkrais practitioners told me that they do not like the tone of the article below from the U.K. Telegraph, but I love it! Slightly irreverent and 100% positive for Feldenkrais (from my point of view). "I was seeing the best physios in the world – and doing Pilates,” he recalls of his injuries, yet... […]

Moshe Feldenkrais

Every so often, I get questions from people about TMJ and surgery, be it a disk removal or grinding of the teeth or what have you. I am not a medical doctor and I cannot give medical advice. But what I can do is review the research on TMJ surgery, consult with experts, and make...

I have not been updating the blog too much these days, but just wanted to let you know that I (Ryan Nagy) am still here and the TMJ series is still going strong. I also want to relay to a very strange experience that I had last year but that I am only now writing...

I’m in the process of pulling together my pdf’s and research articles on TMJ in preparation for writing a book on the subject of “curing” TMJ. I put the word cure in quotes as very often TMJ does not seem to be a disease as much as a process. People often have processes of clenching...